Before he died last week, Purple Rain singer, Prince, who was known for his music and wild sex life, had been diagnosed with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS, six months earlier. He contracted HIV in the mid-90s but the disease developed into AIDS six months ago.
Pop icon Prince died at his compound in Minnesota on April 21, 2016, a representative said. He was 57.
It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning,” said his spokeswoman, Yvette Noel-Schure.
The 57-year-old Purple Rain singer, who was a Jehovah’s Witness, lost weight considerably at the time of his death and had been “preparing to die for a little while.
Prior to his death, doctors had told Prince that his blood count was unusually low and that his body temperature had dropped dangerously below normal from 98.6 degrees to 94 degrees.
He was totally iron-deficient, very weak and often disoriented. He rarely ate and when he did, it all came right back up.
His face was yellowish, the skin on his neck was hanging off and the tips of fingers were a brownish-yellow, a Daily Mail report said.
This development comes as sources close to the investigation into the singer’s death claimed that he had prescription painkillers in his possession when he died.
Reports said that the pain-killing substance was found on Prince and that prescription pills were found where he died at his home in suburban Minneapolis.
Prince was said to have refused to be treated for AIDS because he believed that God would heal him. He was alleged to have become addicted to Percoet – an opiate medication – that he was using to dull the pain he was suffering in his last months of life.
Unverified statements by those close to the deceased musician, following his death, said he died of influenza, an infection that would likely have proved fatal if his immune system had been decimated by AIDS.
But days before he was found dead in a lift at his Paisley Park mansion in Chanhassen, Minneapolis, Prince had been seen making runs to a local pharmacy to pick up bags of prescriptions.
Those who knew Prince quite well said they were all just shocked to see him looking so down. They said they told him that everyone was praying for him.
The Purple Rain singer weighed barely 50 kg by the time he died, was barely eating, and had developed a yellowish tinge to his skin that hung off his neck
One report quoted Prince as saying almost under his breath: Maybe if you prayed for me a year ago it’d be different right now. Then he waved and said thanks anyway.
Rumours have surrounded the cause of Prince’s death, who was known as much for his sexually androgynous stage persona and wild sex life as his music.
It has been rumoured that he died from an overdose of a pain killer, Percocet, and had nearly passed away on board his private plane while touring six days before he was found unresponsive at home.
The jet was required to make an unscheduled landing despite being just 45 minutes from the artist’s home, though his representatives again said he was suffering from flu.
Online reports said Prince had to be rushed to hospital for a save shot, typically used on patients who have taken an overdose of opiate medication.
While the autopsy report into Prince’s death may not been released for several weeks, investigators have ruled out suicide.
A lawyer, Londell McMillan, who knew Prince for 25 years and at one time was his manager, however denied the singer had an addiction.
McMillan said Prince’s death had come as a shock to all who knew him because he lived a clean and healthy lifestyle.
Prince was reported to have been suffering from flu around the time of his death, though an official autopsy may take weeks to complete.
The artist was found slumped in an elevator at his sprawling Paisley Park home and recording studio complex last week before being pronounced dead.
Source: WWWN, HWN Africa.
: 2016-05-02 16:35:18 | : 1374